Configuring Windows 8 ─ Exam 70-687

Microsoft Windows 8 is the newest version of the market-leading operating system, designed for use on home and business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. Windows 8 represents what Microsoft terms as “a reimaging of Windows", with the most apparent change being the Metro technology: a new user interface and a new style of application that employs new APIs designed to work better with mobile devices and touch-enabled PCs. Beyond the Metro interface, though, IT professionals who manage computers and devices will need to know how to perform Windows 8 tasks such as installing, upgrading, and migrating to Windows 8, managing updates and malware protection, managing and implementing network connectivity, managing access to resources, supporting mobile devices, monitoring and maintaining Windows clients, configuring backup and recovery, and managing application compatibility.

Microsoft Learning is prepared for the next round of its Windows Operating System Certification program with exams covering the new version of the software, Windows 8. The exams provide an opportunity for the MS line to capitalize on the dual disruption of brand-new software and brand-new certifications. Microsoft Learning has introduced new question types for their IT Professional certification exams, including case studies, active screen questions, multiple choice–best answer questions, and multiple choice–repeated scenario questions. The new question types are supported in the end-of-chapter assessments and testbanks. To help match the added rigor of the certification exams, stronger assessment questions and tests are included in the textbooks and lab manuals.

The Microsoft Official Academic Course series is a complete program for instructors and institutions to prepare and deliver great courses on Microsoft software technologies. With MOAC, we recognize that, because of the rapid pace of change in the technology and curriculum developed by Microsoft, there is an ongoing set of needs beyond classroom instruction tools for an instructor to be ready to teach the course. MOAC endeavors to provide solutions for all these needs in a systematic manner in order to ensure a successful and rewarding course experience for both instructor and student—technical and curriculum training for instructor readiness with new software releases, the software itself for student use at home for building hands-on skills, assessment and validation of skill development, and a great set of tools for delivering instruction in the classroom and lab. All are important to the smooth delivery of an interesting course on Microsoft software, and all are provided with the Microsoft Official Academic Course program.